what would you do? (a poll)

Sometimes motherhood throws me into situations where there is no clear-cut answer, and where I am left choosing between the lesser of two evils. I ran into one of those situations today, and I'm curious to know what other moms would have done. So, WWYD?

Here's the scenario: You need to run into a major grocery store chain for milk, and you have three kids in tow (one of them a newborn in an infant seat). You spot the fancy carts that will hold three children at the front entrance of the store. You park as close as you can to those carts, which are across the street from where you are parked. You must now strategize the safest way to get all three kids into said cart. Do you:

1. Leave the kids in the car for a moment (still in your line of sight) while you walk over and get a cart to bring back to the car so that the kids can cross the street strapped and contained in a seat.

2. Do your best to wrangle two small kids across a parking lot and street while holding an infant carseat carrier that leaves you with one free hand, because leaving children in the car, no matter how brief, is not okay.

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So. What would you do? Risk crossing the street with two kids who like to dart in traffic and one free hand, or risk leaving them in the car while you cross the street? I'm curious to hear what you would do. Tomorrow I'll post about what I chose to do, and what drama ensued from that decision . . .

#1. Coming from someone who NEVER. EVER. leaves keys in the ignition if I am not IN the driver's seat (even at the gas station). Leaving the kids in the cool, locked car (key in pocket) to retrieve/park a cart, within eyeshot of course, is okay. And safer.

Isn't there a similar dilemma in a riddle? Once upon a time there was a tribesman who had to cross a river in a boat only big enough for the man and one other thing. He had a goat, a lion, and a bundle of millet. If he takes the lion first, the goat will eat the millet. If he takes the millet, the lion will eat the goat, and so on... I say stay at home until one of the kids can drive, then send that one to the store for the milk--just don't give him/her the atm card. Trust me on this.

First, I would call my husband to see if he could pick up milk on his way home. If that backfired, I would carry the infant carrier in my left hand (it's my strongest), hoist India on my other hip with my hand hanging loosely under her bottom, and have Jafta hold that hand while crossing the parking lot in extreme slow motion. Or, I would park next to a cart return, pile everyone in a standard cart and push it to the car cart. I think...

Ha! I like Corey's response.I would choose #1, but knowing my kids one of them would crawl into the driver's seat and pop the car into neutral and "drive" off. How can I be so sure? It's happened before:)I always park next to a cart return even if it's a mile away.

Since it is so hot where we live, I'm too paranoid to leave the kids in the car--esp. with an infant. So, I make them hold hands with each other and one holding my hand while my other one has the baby carrier or have one hold onto the carrier. If I'm at my parents' in Montana, I'd feel comfortable grabbing the cart and taking it back to the car to get the kids.

If you've got the infant carrier you have to get the cart first. You'll be too tired dragging that in and cattling the children at the same time. Once she's out of the carseat it's a little easier to walk to the carts.I often drive around looking for a stray cart and park there. Sometimes it's a hike, but worth it with contained kids:)

I think I would side with the majority here too. I'd leave them in the car and bolt for the cart while using those eyes in the back of my head to keep watch over the little ones while I make my sprint for the cart. :)